This book offers a compelling and well-argued exploration of how smartphones and related technologies are harming children’s mental health.
Haidt begins by examining human evolution in close communities, explaining how early socialisation develops in infancy and why it is essential for well-being. He then traces how these foundations have been disrupted in the 21st century. Haidt frames the modern crisis as a combination of overprotection in the real world and underprotection in the virtual world. While digital technologies have existed for decades, he argues that the widespread adoption of smartphones around 2010 marked a tipping point, after which mental health problems among young people rose dramatically.
Central to the book is Haidt’s concept of “phone-based childhood”, describing how children—especially teenagers—now live almost constantly online, with minimal exposure to nature, independence, or real-world experiences.
He identifies four core harms caused by smartphones:
• Social deprivation
• Sleep deprivation
• Fragmented attention
• Addiction
Although the effects differ between boys and girls, both are severely impacted. Girls tend to be more affected by social media due to its emotional and relational dynamics, while boys are more vulnerable to video games and pornography, which can lead to increasing withdrawal from real-world engagement.
My favourite section of the book is the chapter on spirituality. Haidt explores how spiritual practices and shared meaning have historically helped build trust and social cohesion within societies. In contrast, he argues that smartphones and social media promote values and behaviors that undermine these foundations, negatively affecting both children and adults.
The book concludes with a series of practical recommendations for governments, technology companies, schools, and parents aimed at reducing—or even reversing—the harms of phone-based childhood.
Recommend.
